
Issue No 71		15 September 2000

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Review

A Perfect Circle- Mer de Noms

By Peter Zangari

Peter Zangari believes the music world has moved on from the simplistic chords of Nirvana and Soundgarden and the grunge scene has been obliterated. But like most other things, especially music, it re-invents itself.

Mer de Noms was released a few months ago on the EMI Label, and represents a new project for TOOL lead singer Maynard Keenan. For those of you who are familiar with TOOL a big hit of theirs was 'Sober' which featured in the Hottest 100 of 1993. Despite this TOOL's own brand of progressive metal never really hit the bigtime in Australia, which doesn't necessarily do justice to their talent.

One of the main features of this type of music is the de-tuned bass and electric guitars (or dropped D tuning for those music buffs), which give an extra heavy sound. Some of the bands that have used this tuning successfully include Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple. In recent times though, the explosion in the Seattle grunge scene brought the attention to the use of de-tuned guitars. To tell you the truth, I think the music world has moved on from the simplistic chords of Nirvana and Soundgarden and the grunge scene has been obliterated. But like most other things, and especially music, it re-invents itself.

Opening with a killer riff is the Album's first single, The Hollow. This track has been receiving quite some airplay recently, especially on JJJ. It's a peculiar blend of melodic riffs and off beat drumming that gets you from the start but Keenan's brooding vocals is what keeps this track and album once step ahead of the rest. Other standout tracks include Orestes, 3 Libras and Thinking of You. Not all of the tracks are as heavy as the first single which indicates a strong songwriting depth. Like many other bands these days, a Perfect Circle has used a huge string section to complement its full sound and this can be best heard on 3 Libras.

I've been a fan of this style of music for a while, though I don't get a chance to appreciate it as much anymore by going to any gigs or concerts. I know that I'll be reversing that trend as soon as this band makes it to these shores.

In the same category, some other CD's worth checking out:

Helmet: Meantime

Pantera: Cowboys from Hell

Anything by the Mark of Cain (from Adelaide)

Tool: Opiate

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Issue 71 contents

Interview: Surviving The Firestorm
After several years as the focus of some brutal politics Carmen Lawrence is back on the ALP front bench. She talks to Workers Online about her new portfolio, unions and the ALP and mud slinging in politics.

History: Unions, Sport and Community
Remember when sport was a fun way to relax after arduous labour? The fight for the eight-hour work day was based around a slogan that said, in part, eight hours work, eight hours play. The play was unpaid and unsung, but enjoyable.

Politics: Global Failures
Sharan Burrow told the World Economic Forum this week that the union movement acknowledges the benefits of globalisation but it's time to address the failures.

International: Mobile Workers
A global IT labour shortage is throwing up challenges for both the developed and developing world. Gerd Rohde, from the Geneva-based Union Network International, is working to strike a balance.

Unions: Stuffed or Stoned?
In a recent dispute at the South Blackwater Coal Mine in Central Queensland CFMEU members resisted the introduction of random drug testing in the absence of a better strategy to test impairment and not just lifestyle.

Review: A Perfect Circle- Mer de Noms
Peter Zangari believes the music world has moved on from the simplistic chords of Nirvana and Soundgarden and the grunge scene has been obliterated. But like most other things, especially music, it re-invents itself.

Satire: Silly 2000
Editors demand something happen: �We�ve got 300 Olympic pages to fill and everyone is training�.

» Protesting Posties Blast Bosses in Swank Hotel

» Mario Carries Torch For Workers

» Union Flag Flies High At Olympic Park

» International Passport for IT Workers

» Homecarers Strike Another Blow Against Outsourcing

» Alliances The Legacy of S11 Say Protestors

» Violence Rife Against Union Activists

» Call Centre Workers Compo Call Answered

» Better Pay, Big Screens and Ice Cream for Bus 2000 Drivers

» 'Appalling' Detention Centres Behind Riots

» Election of Burmese Official A Slap In The Face

» Away For The Games

» Sport

» Labour Review

» Tool Shed

» Listen To The Young

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